POLY-ALPHA-N-ALKYL ACRYLIC DERIVATIVES - SYNTHESIS, INFLUENCE OF MOLECULAR-WEIGHT AND N-ALKYL GROUP LENGTH ON PHYSICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES

A series of alpha-n-alkyl acrylic acid monomers was synthesized and ho mopolymerized by a radical route. Methylation of polyacids using diazo methane led to the corresponding methyl esters and allowed physicochem ical analysis. The thermal stability of polyacids and polymethyl ester s is insensitive to the nature of the alkyl group and to the molecular weight. The glass transition temperature, T-g, classically decreases with increases in alkyl group length such as alkyl polymethacrylates. Molecular weight has a drastic influence on T-g for short alkyl groups .